2024 Global Retail Investor Outlook 2025

Retail investors often prefer free, easily accessible information sources. Pairing these with timely, context-specific advice from financial institutions aligns well with their preference for self-directed learning. Access to accurate, unbiased information is key to their success. ~30% of developed country respondents are confident about the credibility of the financial information sources they use, compared to approximately 60% in emerging economies. of all respondents believe that “understanding financial concepts” is key to successful investing, and 47% say “keeping informed via financial news” is key for investing success.46%Retail investors naturally gravitate towards self-directed learning models and easily accessible information sources when it comes to financial education Page 50 Primary information sourcesPage 50 Secondary influence Contextual information Habits and preferencesE.g. traditional media, blogs, seminars and e-learning platforms, television, radio –49% of investors choose sources based on ease of access and clarity of understanding. –40% of respondents are confident about information credibility. –38% of respondents opt for free sources.E.g. friends and family, social media, online communities, investment professionals –One out of three Gen Z/Millennial investors use social media to find information for investing. –63% of investors would invest more if a financial adviser recommended it.E.g. gamified in-app user experiences, nudges, market alerts, newsfeeds –42% of investors learn how to invest “by doing” and 36% through financial institution-provided content. –36% of investors prefer receiving information through platforms they already use for other purposes, such as news or social media. Key frictions and risks –Financial product materials can often include confusing jargon, requiring high financial literacy levels. –Some sources can include misleading or unreliable information. –Information from one-time sources can be forgotten, so regular updates and timely reminders are helpful for investment decisions. –Content provided from finfluencers can vary in objectivity and clarity. –Peer networks can shape how market events are perceived, potentially leading to ineffective investment decisions. –Incentives between investors and intermediaries can be misaligned (e.g. financial advisers, brokers). –While gamification has benefits, it can also encourage behaviours like increased trading or higher risk-taking than suitable. –Volatile market news can create uncertainty and anxiety about holdings, sometimes leading to suboptimal buying or selling decisions. 2024 Global Retail Investor Outlook 50